Am I defined by my past?

What defines you? Is it your past, the situations, circumstances, mistakes, successes, and things that have happened along the way? Our past can certainly shape us and influence our beliefs, the way we see ourselves, and even the way we see God. But what defines you? Because there is a difference between what has shaped you and what gets to define you.

The Apostle Paul gives us a great picture of this in Philippians chapter 3. He talks about his past and gives us his résumé: who he was, where he came from, what he had accomplished, and everything he had going for him. And as far as the world was concerned, Paul had it all. His heritage was impressive. His religious credentials were impressive. His accomplishments were impressive. If anyone had a past they could point to with confidence, it was Paul.

And yet, when he found Jesus, everything changed. He said that what he once considered gain, he now considered loss compared to knowing Christ. In fact, he described it as rubbish, garbage, trash when compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus! Paul had a good past, but even a good past wasn't good enough to define him. Once he encountered Jesus, he realized that his identity was found in something far greater.

You see, your past was never meant to define you. It can describe where you've been, but it doesn't get to determine who you are. Your past can be part of your story but it isn’t the whole story. The things you've done, the things that have been done to you, the successes you've experienced, and even the failures you've carried may have shaped parts of your story, but they don't have the final word about who you are.

That right belongs to Jesus.

John 1:12 says that those who receive Jesus are given the right to become children of God. Think about that for a moment. God Himself gives you a new identity. Your Heavenly Father gets to name you. He gets to tell you who you are. And regardless of your past, in spite of your past, and even including your past, He calls you His child.

That means you don't have to spend the rest of your life trying to overcome, fix, or make up for everything behind you. You don't have to be paralyzed by your past or constantly looking backward with regret. Jesus has something new for you. He invites you to lift your eyes, set them on Him, and live from the identity He has given you.

Your past may explain some things about you, but it doesn't define you. Jesus does. And when you allow your Savior to define you, something begins to change. Shame doesn't get to have the final word. Neither do failure or others’ opinions. Your identity is in Christ. And what He says about you brings life, joy, and freedom. You are His. You are loved. You are a child of God. So don't let what is behind you keep you from experiencing what Jesus has for you today. Fix your eyes on Him, trust what He says about you, and let your Savior, and nothing else, define who you are.

A Prayer for This Week

Father, thank You that my identity comes from You and not from my history. Thank You that neither my failures nor my accomplishments have the authority to name me. When old memories try to define me, remind me of Your truth and what You have done. Teach me to look forward, secure in the identity Jesus has given me and in what He has already made true about me. Amen.

Philippians 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.